This is How Often You Should Refresh the Soil in Your Container Plants

Container plants need nutrient-rich soil to thrive, but over time it’s normal for the soil to become hard or won’t hold water or nutrients as well as it once did.

That’s why it’s important to look out for these telltale signs and replenish the containers with fresh organic soil to keep your plants happy and healthy.

But when is the right time to get to work? We tell you everything you need to know in our guide!

Know your plant babies

The first thing you’ll want to do is research your plants. What are the different varieties and what types of conditions do they need to thrive? 

For example, if you have plants that grow quickly, such as African Violets, they generally do well when fresh soil is added once a year. Slower plants such as cacti won’t need soil until around 1.5 to two years.

Write down notes about each individual variety to help formulate a schedule for repotting.

Look for red flags

A good time to fill your containers with new soil is in the Spring when there is ample sunlight to encourage root growth. You can also look for physical signs that it’s time for a change.

If plant leaves start to look yellow, the soil is firm, or the plants are slow-growing, or roots are starting to peek out of the drain hole in the bottom of the pot, then it might be time to replenish the nutrients.

Consider changing the container size

Sometimes new soil isn’t all a plant needs. If your plant has been growing for some time, it’s normal that it may need a bigger pot.

Opt for a container that’s a maximum of two inches larger. Sometimes it can be counterproductive to put a small plant in a large pot, as it’s difficult for the plant to get enough oxygen.